The 5 Best At-Home Herpes Tests in 2023
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- Best budget option:myLAB Box | Skip to review
- Best for fast results:STD Check | Skip to review
- Best in-person testing option:Priority STD | Skip to review
- Best report:Everlywell | Skip to review
- Best herpes test subscription:LetsGetChecked | Skip to review
Genital herpes is caused by two viruses called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
In the United States, 11.9% of people 14 to 49 have HSV-2. However, the number of people with genital herpes is likely higher since genital herpes can be caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Once you do get to see the doctor, don’t be surprised if you’re rushed out of the exam room before you get all of your questions answered, according to healthcare staffing agency Staff Care. Studies show that 41% of ophthalmologists spend just 9 to 12 minutes with a patient, and 13- to 16-minute appointments are the norm for 40% of cardiologists, 37% of pediatricians, 35% of urologists, 35% of family physicians, 34% of obstetricians and gynecologists and 30% of otolaryngologists.
If you haven’t experienced an initial outbreak, the best time to get tested for herpes is 12 days after exposure since the incubation period is 2 to 12 days.
This means herpes may not be detectable for up to 12 days after you’re exposed to it.
You can schedule an in-person appointment with a doctor, who can use a few different tests to determine your diagnosis. These tests may include:
- viral culture test
- virus antigen detection test
- antibody test
- polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
An at-home test, on the other hand, can be done by yourself in private.
You can order a herpes test kit online — which may include a swab test or finger prick blood test — and send the sample back in the mail. Most companies will send your results within 5 days.
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). You can contract it by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the STI.
HSV-1 can also cause oral herpes, which may lead to sores or blisters around the mouth. You can contract oral herpes by kissing or engaging in oral sex with someone who already has it.
Some cases of oral herpes (HSV-1) can lead to genital herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) since the virus can spread from the saliva of someone with the infection into your body through oral sex.
It generally takes anywhere from 4 to 7 days for herpes symptoms to appear. In addition to sores or blisters — which are called herpes lesions — around your mouth or genitals, other possible symptoms may include:
- pain during urination
- itching
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
Some people don’t experience any symptoms at all, but they can still transmit the infection to others.
When researching at-home herpes tests, we looked for options with fast and accurate results and excellent customer feedback to compile our list of best buys.
Here are the criteria we considered:
- Popularity: We included tests purchased by hundreds, if not thousands, of customers.
- Reviews: All products have an excellent average customer rating from people who are happy with their experience.
- Privacy protocols: Medical information must be private and compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) , so all the companies we considered have strict policies in place.
- Results: We included services that offer fast, digital results within 5 days or less that people can access easily through a digital platform.
- Accuracy: We only considered products with a high accuracy rate.
- Value: We looked for services that provide the best bang for your buck.
- Company reputation and transparency: We only included products from trusted brands that our team has vetted. This means there’s been no recent recalls or lawsuits, and the products meet our business standards and align with our approach to well-being.
FYI: We did include a couple of options that may call for you to leave home to pick up your test kit, so they may not fall 100% into the at-home category. But they are solid options, nonetheless.
Best budget option
myLAB Box At-Home Herpes Test
- Price: $89
- Results time: online results in 2 to 5 days
- Collection method: finger prick
- Follow-up care: physician consultation for positive results
With a finger prick, myLAB Box‘s at-home genital herpes test is pretty straightforward. Online lab results are provided within 2 to 5 days.
When you order a kit, you’ll receive materials to take your finger prick sample in discreet packaging. It also comes with simple instructions and a prepaid envelope to send the sample off for testing.
If your results are positive, you can schedule a free consultation with one of myLAB Box’s physicians. The company works with labs that are certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Act of 1988 (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP). Plus, the website itself is HIPAA compliant.
Testing is not yet available in New York. The company is waiting for its state application to be approved.
Pros
- easy collection
- discreet
- no need to leave home
Cons
- not available in New York
- results may take up to 5 days
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Best for fast results
STD Check
- Price: $45 (or $90 for HSV-1 and HSV-2)
- Results time: online results in 1 to 2 days
- Collection method: blood draw
- Follow-up care: phone consultation with a doctor for positive results
STD Check has more than 4,500 testing sites nationwide. You can choose an individual test like HSV-1 or HSV-2 for $45 each. You can also order a 10-test panel, which includes the most common STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
The company is known for fast test results, which are sent to your online account in 1 to 2 days.
Once you complete your order online, you can select a local testing center based on your ZIP code. According to the company, in-person tests only take 5 minutes.
Your test and results will be completely confidential. If your test results are positive, a physician can answer questions about your diagnosis.
Pros
- accessible price point
- physician to answer questions
- fast results
Cons
- must visit clinic
- labs not available in all locations
- doesn’t accept insurance
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Best in-person testing option
Priority STD
- Price: $99
- Results time: online results in 24 to 72 hours
- Collection method: urine and blood sample
- Follow-up care: physician consultation and treatment available for positive results
Priority STD has a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot with more than 2,300 reviews.
You can order the Priority STD individual herpes test online or by phone, which normally requires a waiting period of at least 12 days after exposure.
After scheduling an order, you’ll be directed to find a lab near you. There are more than 4,000 labs to choose from, and you can use the site’s online scheduling system to make an appointment.
STI test results are processed online through a secure patient login, typically within 1 to 3 days after collection.
Pros
- excellent reviews
- fast results
- no need to take your own samples
Cons
- must visit clinic in person
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Best report
Everlywell STD Test
- Price: $169
- Results time: online results in 2 to 5 days
- Collection method: finger prick and vaginal swab or urine sample
- Follow-up care: physician consultation for positive results
For $169, people with a vagina can test for six common STIs at once, including HSV-2. Tests require both a finger prick and a vaginal swab.
For the same price, people with a penis can also test for herpes by purchasing the company’s STD Test for Men. It looks for the same six STIs as the other test, but sample types include a finger prick and a urine sample instead of a vaginal swab.
The kit includes prepaid shipping both ways, digital results, and detailed instructions. Once your kit arrives, you’ll need to register it on Everlywell’s website using the unique ID number included in your box.
In your kit, you’ll receive all you need to collect a finger prick sample and either a vaginal swab packet or a urine cup and urine sample tube.
After shipping your sample, you’ll receive digital results on your account within a few days. If your results are positive, a board certified physician in your state will contact you at no additional cost to discuss your case and prescribe medication if necessary. Everlywell will also send you a personalized report detailing what STI you might have.
The site is HIPAA compliant and physician reviewed. This means your information is kept private, and medical information is approved by independent, board certified healthcare professionals.
Pros
- tests for a range of STIs
- simple, at-home testing
- free physician follow-up if positive
Cons
- high price point
- must take own samples
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Best herpes test subscription
LetsGetChecked Herpes Test
- Price: $119 (or $83 monthly with subscription)
- Results time: online results in 2 to 5 days
- Collection method: finger prick
- Follow-up care: phone consultation with clinical team
When you join the LetsGetChecked subscription service, testing is easy and convenient as you receive everything you need to take your sample in a discrete kit through the mail. Plus, you’ll save 30% on the full price of the kits.
There are also helpful videos on the website that explain the instructions in clear, straightforward language so you can be confident you’re taking your sample correctly.
We tried the LetsGetChecked Herpes Test
Lois Zoppi, a market editor at our sister site Medical News Today, tried the LetsGetChecked Herpes Test. She found the process to be relatively easy, noting that ordering and testing was pretty pain-free and results arrived quickly.
“The instructions were very easy to follow. The leaflet inside the kit shows you step-by-step the process of collecting your sample, with illustrations to guide you alongside written instructions,” she says. “You need to return the sample on the same day. I dropped my test in a mail box (free shipping was already provided) in another discreet shipping bag.”
She said that her results came in just one day, despite LetsGetChecked saying it can take two to five days.
“To access my results, I simply had to click on a link in the email and log in to my account. I could download a PDF of my results, too, which makes it easy to share with doctors.”
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As with all other testing services on our list, LetsGetChecked is privacy and HIPAA compliant. Your results will be available online in 2 to 5 days. Should your results be positive, you can contact one of the nursing team who can help you determine a treatment plan.
Pros
- convenient
- fast results
- substantial savings with subscription
